Training Toothbrush having a Pivoting Brush Head

Abstract

A training toothbrush for children comprising a body portion that includes a head portion, a handle, and a brush assembly that is configured to engage with and pivot upon the body portion. A camming mechanism, such as an oblique or curvilinear channel that receives a tracking element, is disposed between the brush assembly and the body portion and configured such that when the operator grasps the handle and attempts to brush the teeth in a longitudinal back and forth motion, the relative longitudinal movement between the handle and the brush assembly causes the camming mechanism to translate the longitudinal motion to the brush head, which then pivots vertically against the teeth in a more preferred motion for allowing the bristles to clean between teeth. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a locking mechanism that releasably engages the brush head to prevent it from pivoting vertically so that it operates much like a standard toothbrush.

1 . A manually powered brushing apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of teeth, comprising:
 a brush assembly comprising a brush head having a face and an upper portion, the face including a plurality of bristle elements extending therefrom;   a body portion having a longitudinal axis and further comprising a head portion and a handle extending proximally therefrom, the brush assembly operatively engaging at least one of the head portion and the handle; and   wherein the body portion and the brush assembly of the brushing apparatus further are interconnected via a camming mechanism such when the brushing apparatus is operated using a horizontal brushing motion against the teeth, relative longitudinal movement between the brush assembly and the body portion actuates the camming mechanism, resulting in the brush head being caused to pivot vertically between a first angled configuration and a second angled configuration.   
   
   
       2 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion is configured to slidably receive the brush assembly such that the brush assembly moves longitudinally relative to the body portion when the brushing apparatus is operated using the horizontal brushing motion against the teeth. 
   
   
       3 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the brush assembly further comprises a mounting element configured to receive the brush head and engage the body portion and be longitudinally slidable relative thereto, the brush head being pivotable within the mounting element in response to longitudinal movement thereof relative to the body portion. 
   
   
       4 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the head portion is slidably engaged to the handle of the body portion, the brush head being pivotably received within the head portion; the track system being configured such that the brush head slidably engages the handle, resulting in the brush head moving between the first and the second angled configuration as the handle is caused to slide longitudinally relative to the head portion. 
   
   
       5 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the camming mechanism comprises a track system that include a channel disposed on one of the brush assembly and body portion and a tracking element located on the other of the brush assembly and the body portion. 
   
   
       6 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the track system comprises at least a first channel having a first end and a second end, the channel located about one of the head portion and the brush head and a first tracking element located about other of the head portion and the brush head; the tracking element movable between the first end and the second end of the channel. 
   
   
       7 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the track system is configured such the first channel is located within a track area located beneath the head portion. 
   
   
       8 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the track system further includes a second channel and second tracking element, the first and second channels located within the recessed, the first and second tracking elements being disposed on upper portion of the brush head and configured such that they engage the first and second channels respectively, the first and second channels being configured to cause the brush to pivot from the first position to the second position as the brush assembly moves longitudinally relative to the body portion. 
   
   
       9 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the track system is configured such that the channel is located about the upper portion of the brush head and the tracking element is located about an area located beneath the head portion. 
   
   
       10 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the channel extends along the brushing apparatus at an oblique angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. 
   
   
       11 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the channel comprises a curvilinear configuration. 
   
   
       12 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the camming mechanism operatively connects the handle to the brush assembly, the handle being configured to move relative to the head portion, thereby causing the brush head to pivot vertically. 
   
   
       13 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the brushing apparatus comprises a releasably locking mechanism that when actuated, prevents the brush head from pivoting relative to the body portion. 
   
   
       14 . A manually powered brushing apparatus for cleaning the surfaces of teeth, comprising:
 a brush assembly comprising a brush head having a plurality of bristle elements extending therefrom;   a handle portion slidably engaged with brush assembly, the brushing apparatus further comprising a track system disposed thereon and configured such that when the brushing apparatus is operated using a horizontal brushing motion against the teeth, the engagement of the track system translates the longitudinal movement of the handle to cause the brush head to pivot vertically against the surfaces of the teeth.   
   
   
       15 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the track system comprises a channel disposed on one of the handle and the brush assembly and a tracking element disposed on the other of either the handle or brush assembly, the channel being oriented and configured that as the tracking element traverses longitudinal therein, the brush head is deflected vertically to pivot about the brush head. 
   
   
       16 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the brushing apparatus further comprises a head portion that pivotably receives the brush assembly. 
   
   
       17 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the head portion is slidably engaged to the handle and moves relative thereto to actuate the track system during the horizontal brushing motion by the operator. 
   
   
       18 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the track system comprises a channel disposed in oblique orientation within the handle and a tracking element disposed on the brush head opposite the surface comprising the plurality of bristles. 
   
   
       19 . The brushing apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the brushing apparatus comprises a releasably locking mechanism that when actuated, prevents the brush head from pivoting relative to the body portion. 
   
   
       20 . A method of brushing teeth, comprising the steps of:
 providing a manually powered brushing apparatus having a brush assembly comprising a vertically pivotable brush head, a body portion configured to engage the brush assembly, and a camming mechanism operatively connecting the brush assembly and a component of the body portion that is slidably engaged to thereto;   grasping the body portion;   applying the brush head against the teeth while the brushing apparatus is in a horizontal orientation; and   moving the body portion longitudinally back and forth against the teeth such that the body portion is caused to slide longitudinally relative to the brush assembly, resulting in the camming mechanism translating the longitudinal motion of the body portion so that the brush head is caused to pivot vertically against the teeth.